Disclaimer: I received XX2i sunglasses to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!"

While I may be guilty of (over)analyzing many aspects of my triathlon gear, sunglasses haven’t yet made that list. Frankly, I’ve got such a talent for abusing (and losing) sunglasses that investing in a really nice pair of sunnies hasn’t been a consideration. I tend to race in the Ironman brand of sunglasses that Target sells—that’s how fancy I get. 😉 Consequently, I was happy to review the XX2i France2 sunglasses and find out if there's a noticeable difference in higher-end shades.

Because XX2i is running a special through March 28th for ***50% off*** let me cut to the chase. With the special, you can spend just a few bucks more than I’d be spending for my basic shades at Target, and have better glasses with all kinds of extras—it’s a great deal! I honestly couldn’t believe how much stuff XX2i includes in the package—it was like pulling one of those un-ending ribbons out of a magic hat as I unpacked the box.

Just to show you I'm not exaggerating about the value in the XX2i France2 package, here's an example of what it would cost to buy all the elements they include separately:

Ironman sunglasses from Target: $24.99 (not a fair comparison, because the optics of the XX2i are better; nonetheless...)

Basic sunglass zippered case from REI: $8.95

Basic microfiber sunglass pouch/cleaning cloth from REI: $4.95

Basic eyewear retainer cord from REI: $8.00

Total: $46.89, not including the extra parts XX2i throws in PLUS a lifetime, no questions asked return policy!

List price on the XX2i France2 are $59.99, so even without the 50% off sale they're an incredible deal. Beyond the sweet price, these sunglasses have a few nice features, noticeable to even to the unsophisticated sunglasses buyer like me:

Typical sport glasses with a plastic bridge aren't adjustable. These are "bendy", and able to comfortably adjust even to a really thin nose bridge like mine. (The temple of the glasses is also flexible, though I didn't need to make adjustments there.)

If you're looking for glasses to match the rest of your kit, XX2i is for you. They come in a large variety of frame colors, and the package I received contained two alternate colors for the bridge and temple providing several customization options.

The clarity of vision is fantastic, even on days that aren't super-sunny. I wore them in lousy weather for a gravel bike ride where I didn't want wind in my eyes, or gravel spray in my contacts and I was pleasantly surprised how well the stock lenses worked even on a gray day.

Some XX2i models also offer the option for prescription lenses, as well as interchangeable lenses for different lighting situations.

On the con side:

This particular model was missing a couple features I'd be tempted to upgrade for. I see that the USA1 model is noted to fit petite faces better, which would be nice to try at some point. The France2's aren't "huge" or uncomfortable, but they're also clearly not made for small faces.

I understand the USA1 lenses have cut-outs to help with defogging, which would have been nice on my gravel ride in 30ish degree weather. I gave up trying to keep my face covered, because I kept fogging up the glasses. It would be interesting to see if other models fix the fogging issue as advertised.

Overall, I'm impressed with the glasses, the value, and the company itself for its policies—did I mention they have a 365 day money back guarantee? You can try the glasses for a full year and return them if you're not satisfied that they're perfect for you. There's really no way to lose here. If you need a new pair of glasses for this racing season, give XX2i a try!